SHAH ALAM, Sept 5th – Revoking A Samad Said’s National Laureate title is just a tactic by the BN government to divert people’s attentions from the oil price hike issues.
PAS Information Chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the government cannot deny Pak Samad’s great contributions in upholding Malay literature.
“They are trying to distract the people from the issues of increased oil prices by victimising Pak Samad. What? Since when does flying a different flag is considered to be a dishonour to our national flag? There have been so many assemblies that involved flying flags of different nations. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an insult to our own flag,” he said in a press statement today.
Minister of Information and Communications, Dato’ Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek has publicly declared that the government does not rule out the possibility that the National Laureate title will be withdrawn from Pak Samad.
Abdul Samad Muhammad Said, popularly known as A. Samad Said, was awarded with the title Malaysian National Laureate in 1986. He was also nominated by the Melaka state legislature which confers the title ‘Datuk’ in 1997.
Ibrahim said the government should not turn Malaysia into a police state like performing arbitrary arrests during a dialogue. Instead, a discussion should be encouraged to clear the air.
“BN-Umno leaders should hold a dialogue with Pak Samad instead of mocking him in the media. In the minds of the people, Pak Samad is not just a National Laureate. He is also a well-known hero for abiding his principles and speaking out against the government’s misconducts,” he said.
Recently, Pak Samad was arrested by police and taken to Dang Wangi Police Headquarters at midnight before being released at about 2:30 am.
– FZL